The All-in-One iStent® Procedure for Glaucoma & Cataracts

Are you, or someone you know, suffering from both glaucoma and cataracts? Dr. Michael Ahdoot at Progressive Ophthalmology is committed to preserving your eye health by offering iStent®, an innovative and effective option for treating both cataracts and glaucoma at the same time.

The iStent® procedure allows Dr. Ahdoot to treat your cataracts and relieve glaucoma all in one procedure. During your cataract surgery, the iStent® is implanted to reduce the eye’s pressure (intraocular pressure, IOP) and stabilize fluid outflow, which can reduce your reliance on glaucoma medication(s).

What Happens When Glaucoma Goes Untreated?

Glaucoma is an advanced eye disease, and when left untreated, can lead to blindness. There are multiple types of glaucoma. The most common kind is called “open-angle glaucoma” which is characterized by pressure buildup in the eye (high IOP). This causes damage to the optic nerve with resulting vision loss and eventual blindness if left untreated. Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma (just as there is no cure for diabetes or other medical conditions), but present day treatment methods (medical and surgical) are finely tuned to control glaucoma and maintain sight without further loss of vision.

The best way to prevent glaucoma is by getting regular ophthalmology examinations, particularly if you are pre-disposed by having members of your family with this disease. Dr. Ahdoot will perform thorough examinations and testing to determine your risk and develop a unique treatment strategy if you are diagnosed with glaucoma. If glaucoma is detected, treatment should be implemented immediately before it advances to loss of vision.

In a healthy eye, fluid travels through a pathway called the “trabecular meshwork” and eventually joins the bloodstream. In an eye with open-angle glaucoma, this fluid does not drain efficiently and the pressure in the eye builds up to dangerous levels (high IOP). This causes damage to the optic nerve and leads to irreversible vision loss. Vision loss starts in the periphery where you are not aware. By the time one becomes aware of the vision loss associated with glaucoma, the disease is already at an advanced stage. This is why glaucoma is referred to as the "silent thief of sight."

How iStent® Works

The iStent® is an innovative glaucoma treatment. It is the smallest medical device to ever be implanted in the human body. While the device might be miniature, it has made a large impact on thousands of patients’ lives.

The iStent® helps restore pressure in the eye to its normal levels. It improves the eye’s ability to decrease intraocular pressure by creating a permanent route through the deficient pathway of the eye, relieving pressure and fluid buildup. The iStent® continues to work after it is implanted to naturally improve the movement of fluid through and out of your eye.​​​​​​​The iStent® implant is a surgical titanium micro-bypass stent, which is preloaded into a sterile applicator. The innovative design of the implant applicator allows Dr. Ahdoot to insert the implant in the most effective, targeted area.

About the iStent® Procedure

The iStent® procedure is conveniently performed at the time of cataract surgery. Removing the cataract and implanting the iStent® device is typically performed under topical or local anesthesia. After removing your cataract, Dr. Ahdoot will implant the microscopic iStent® device. After the treatment, you will not see or feel the device.

The iStent® is an outpatient treatment, so you’ll be fine to go home on the same day as your surgery. After the treatment, you will be prescribed typical antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to help induce a fast and low-risk recovery. For a few days after surgery, you should avoid excessive physical activity or anything that could cause a buildup of eye pressure.

Benefits of iStent®

There are a variety of benefits that come with receiving the iStent® device at the time of your cataract surgery.

Non-invasive treatment. Since the iStent® device is implanted during cataract surgery, it doesn’t require additional incisions beyond those needed for routine cataract surgery.

High success rates. Clinical studies have found that most patients benefits from iStent®, and see a reduction in intraocular pressure and their dependence on glaucoma medications.

Choose Dr. Ahdoot for Your iStent® Treatment

Before beginning treatment, Dr. Ahdoot will need to diagnose the severity of your glaucoma and determine the appropriate treatment. The treatment (medical and surgical) for glaucoma is primarily aimed to reduce the intraocular pressure. The iStent® device will improve the pressure build up in your eye and may decrease your dependence on medications.

In the past, surgical treatments were highly invasive, high-risk, and required a lengthy recovery. With iStent®, Dr. Ahdoot is able to reduce intraocular pressure during cataract surgery in a low-risk fashion with a quick recovery.

Are you interested in this revolutionary glaucoma treatment? Contact us today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Michael Ahdoot in our state of the art Sunnyside, Queens location.